Local mothers went on the social media over the weekend to vent their frustration on Macau’s health system, sharing their check-up experiences during pregnancies at the government-run Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre. They alleged that doctors gave them wrong medical advice causing them to almost lose their babies.
This came after a local man called a TDM Chinese-language radio phone-in programme on Friday, where Health Bureau (SSM) Director Lei Chin Ion and Deputy Director Kuok Cheong U were guests, saying that his wife went to have an ultrasound in the public hospital in July 2012, only to be told that the foetus was dead and the doctor suggested his wife have an uterine curettage.
Not wanting to believe the doctor, the man said his wife went to have another ultrasound in a private clinic, only to be told that the baby was alive and well. The caller said his wife gave birth the following year, adding that he and his wife then complained to the hospital, only to be told that the incident was due to “miscommunication”.
After the caller revealed his story, more local residents vented their frustration through the social media over the weekend, alleging they had encountered similar situations while others panned the city’s “abysmal” medical system and accused doctors in the public hospital of shirking their responsibilities.
A woman alleged online that she suffered from bleeding while carrying her daughter a few years ago. She said that she went to the public hospital for a check-up and was told that she should have an abortion if the bleeding persisted for a week. She then went to the private Kiang Wu Hospital where doctors told her such a measure was unnecessary.
“If I had listened to the advice from the Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre, I would have lost my baby,” the woman alleged.
Kuok, who is also the director of the public hospital, said after attending Friday’s programme that the government was considering hiring non-local experts for panel hearings about medical complaints, while Lei said most of the complaints were related to doctors and nurses’ attitude issues, as well as procedures related to medical treatment.
Kuok was asked by reporters on Sunday about the hearings. He said that apart from the non-local experts the panels would include doctors from both the Conde de Sao Januario Hospital Centre and Kiang Wu Hospital as well as community leaders. He pledged that the hearings will be carried out independently. (macaunews/macaupost)
